Automatic starter control and nonstall device



2 Q W. Y. M

J P GERAGHTY AUTOMATIC STARTER CONTROL AND NONSTALL DEVICE July 13 1926.

INVENTOR $7011 G'eragizfy ATTORNEYS Patented July 13, 1926.

UNITED STATES JOHN P. GERAGHTY, OF JERSEY CITY, NEW JERSEY.

AUTOMATIC? STARTER CONTROL AND NONSTALL DEVICE.

Application filed April 25, 1925. Serial No. 25,944.

This invention relates to an improved construction for preventing stalling of'engines and particularly to an improved starter control for automobile engines whereby the same is automatically thrown into action for turning over the engine when the same has become stalled. A An object of the invention is to provide an improved construction of means which will automatically throw in the starter of the automobile engine as soon as the engine tends to stop.

Another object of the invention isto provide a governor for the circuit of the starter of an automobile engine, the construction being such that when the engine is running the circuit of the starter will be maintained opened and when the engine is stopped the circuit will be closed. 1

In the accompanying drawing Figure 1 is a fragmentary sectional view through a governor disclosing certain features of the invention.

Figure 2 is a sectional view through Figure 1 on line 22.

Figure 3 is a diagram illustrating the circuits included in the invention.

Referrin to the accompanying drawing by numerals, 1 indicates part of'an engine through which extends the generator shaft 2. In ordinary automobile engines, there is provided a storage battery, a generator and a starter together with the usual ignition circuit and fuel supply for the cylinders of the motor. The generator is connected to the engine so as to be driven thereby when the engine is functioning and in that manner g nerate current for the ignition circuit and a so for the storage battery.

As now in common use, the starter circuit must be closed by a foot button or some specially operated switch. If the engine should become stalled, it is necessary for the operator to again close the switch by his foot or other means in order to cause the starter to turn over the engine. In the present invention, means have been provided for automatically turning over the engine by the starter as soon as the same has become stalled and thereby practically prevent stalling. Oftentimes in crossing a railroad track, the engine is throttled down to such in extent that it oftentimes stops or stalls. By providing means for automatically turning over the engine under circumstances like this, it is evident that accidents will be largely avoided and the engine caused to function in a better manner.

Referring more particularly to Figure 1, it will be seen that the generator shaft 2 is provided with a bore 3 for receiving the shaft 4 and is also provided with sockets for receiving the lugs or pins 5 extending downwardly from the flange 6, which flange is. rigidly secured to shaft A or formed integral therewith. The shaft {1 extends upwardly and is journaled in the box or hub 7 which preferably merges into the casing 8, which casing is provided with a chamber 9 in which the various governor weights l0 operate and with a bore 11 adapted to receive certain other parts of the device. The casing 8 is preferably soldered throughout so as to be substantially dust-proof, though a suitable vent 12 is formed therein. Arranged in the bore 11 is a guiding sleeve or piston 13 which has a nice sliding fit with the walls of the bore and carries an annular contact ring 14 which, however, is insulated therefrom by suitable insulating members 15-. (Jo-acting with the ring 14 are contacts 16' and 17' clamped in place by suitable binding posts 18 and 19, which binding posts are also suitably insulated from the lower part of casing 8. The two sections 20 and 21 of the wire leading to the starter 22 are connected to the binding posts 18 and 19 respectively and said binding posts are connected together by ring 1A1 when the same is in its lowest position as shown in Figure 1. Associated with these members is a sleeve 23 slidably and rotatably mounted on shaft 4, said sleeve having flanges 24 and 25 formed thereon. The flange 25 carries an anti-friction bearing structure 26 so that when it is raised by the sleeve 23 and engages the sleeve 13 or the insulation surrounding the same, said sleeve will not rotate but will merely move upwardly; The sleeve 23 is provided with ears 27 and 28 to which one end of each of the respective links 29 and 30 is pivoted. The opposite ends of these links are pivotally connected with the weights 10 while suitable links 31 and 32 are pivotally connected with the weights 10 and also with the cars 33 and 34 extending from the sleeve 35, which sleeve is preferably rigidly secured to shaft 4.

While the governor and the associated switching mechanism which is automatically controlled thereby are peculiarly adapted for embodiment in a device for controlling a starter circuit, it will be evident that they are also of general application. Such automatic switching mechanism is suitable wherever it is-desired to make the speed of a rotating controlling member regulative of a distant controlled member.

By this construction and arrangement, whenever the generator shaft 2 is operated, shaft 4 and sleeve 23 will be rotated. As the speed gradually increases, the weights 1O acting in the usual manner of a governor will gradually pull the sleeve 23 upwardly until the bearing 26 engages the insulation 36 of sleeve 13. After this has been done any further movement will cause the sleeve 13 to be raised and as it moves upwardly it will carry with it ring 14 so that engagement With the contacts 16 and 17 will be broken and, therefore, the circuit of the starter will be opened at this point. The governor is so set that when the engine is running even at low speed, as for instance, when properly idling, the generator shaft 2 will be moving at such a speed as to hold the ring 14 out of engagement with the contacts 16 and 17. This will prevent the starter from moving into operatlve engagement with the engine for turning the same over. However, as soon as the engine stops, as for instance, when the same is stalled, the governor will naturall stop and the parts will quickly move un er the action of gravity to the position shown in Figure 1 whereupon the circuit of starter 22 is closed and the same wall immediately function to turn over the engine 2 so that the time interval when the engine is stalled is very small. If desired, a spring could act on the sleeve 23 for forcing the same downwardly as well as gravity, though ordinarily, gravity will be suflicient.

Referring to Figure 3, it will be noted that whenever the ignition switch 37 is moved to a closed postion as shown in this figure, the circuit not only of the ignition will be closed but also the circuit of the starter 22. As the governor shown in Figure 1 is still; the circuit will be closed at this point, and consequently, as soon as switch 37 is closed, the starter 22 will begin to function and will continue to function until the engine begins to act whereupon the starter will be thrown out and the' circuit will be opened by the governor structure shown in Figure 1. However, the ignition circuit will remain closed and the engine will function in the usual manner. It will be noted that while the engine is functioning in the usual manner, the only place where the circuit of starter 22 is o ened is at the point where contacts 16 an 17 co-act with the ring 14:. In view of this fact it is evident that as soon as the engine stops from any cause, the circuit will be closed by the immediate engagement of the contacts 16 and 17 by ring 14. If this closing of the circuit is closed by stalling of the engine, current will be immediately supplied to the starter 22 so that the engine will be again started. If the engine is stopped by reason of opening the ignition circuit upon the shifting of switch 37 to an open position, the rin 14 and associated parts will function as described but the closing of the circuit at this point will not affect the starter 22 as the circuit is opened at switch 37 From this construction and arrangement, it, will be seen that when the operator turns on the ignition of the automobile, the engine will immediately be turned over by the starter. Heretofore, it has been necessary to turn on the engine circuit and then place the foot on the starter button or switch and to repeat this operation of closing the starter circuit whenever it is desired to actuate the starter. In the present invention, the starter is always in condition for moving into operative position for turning over the engine but remains out until the engine stops. It will be noted that the Whole device operates as a single unit to start and maintain the engine going. The governor and other parts are all connected directly and indirectly with the engine so that the engine, generator, starter and control shown in Figure 1, all function together to keep the engine operating until the switch 37 is opened. In the drawing, the governor has been shown connected to the generator direct but it is, of course, evident that the governor could be connected directly to the engine or to the engine through some other device but always in such a manner that it will function as a unit with the engine, starter and generator.

What I claim is:

1. In an automatic switching mechanism a switch casing, a rotatable element within said casing, a sleeve slidable on said rotatable element, centrifugal governor members connecting the sleeve and the rotating element, and operativeto slide the sleeve along the rotating element when the rotation of the latter exceeds a predetermined speed, a pair of conically tapered stationary contacts within the casing, a ring having an annular conically tapered contact face normally completing a circuit between said contacts any portion of said contact face being adapted to flatly contact the stationary terminals, and means associated with the sleeve for moving the ring away from the contacts to open the circuit when the rotating member exceeds a predetermined speed.

2. In an automatic switching mechanism a switch casing, a rotatable element within said casing, a sleeve slidable on said rotatable element, centrifugal governor members connecting the sleeve and the rotating element, and operative to slide the sleeve along the rotating element when the latter exceeds 10 sleeve for moving the ring away from the contacts to open the circuit when the rotating member exceeds a predetermined, speed, said means including a flange on the sleeve for actuating the ring, and antifriction means associated with the flange whereby the ring may be axially shifted by the rotating sleeve without being rotated thereby.

JOHN P. GERAGHTY. 

